So, i see that large amount of back spacing is a popular item, i mean it does look very cool on the trackicks, but with "light duty" suspension etc how much does it hurt components??  Probably a dumb-ish question, but i've never been one to go much over an inch or so of offset, because of how much it wears on components, but is there something i don't know about the trackicks??

---edit---
backspacing and offset are different ways of measuring the same thing.  People generally use backspacing.. i just never seem to remember that, so ANYWAYS, every time i used "offset" just think backspacing.  On that, i'm talking about increased negative backspacing, ie making the wheels stick out farther.

lol.. so i'm guessing that there isn't anything special about the kicks then...  Well, just for information purposes then, increases in negative backspacing (moving the wheels/tires out, away from the frame, etc) increases stress in balljoints, knuckles, axles shafts, axles housings, spindles, and wheel bearings.  Yes, so pretty much everything in the front end.  However, its notoriously bad on IFS vehicles, where solid axles will still be effected, just not as severely, while rear axles are hardly phased as there are no steering components.  On that, the two components most effected are wheel bearing and balljoints, wheel bearings still being the greater of the two, and with the trackicks having struts, i'm not sure how they are effected by the change.

On my old Sidekick I had some 31's on jeep CJ wheels with 3.75" backspacing. They looked and worked awesome but I did have 2 wheel bearings let go on me. I think the first time was due to a lack of maintenance and the second time was because the silicon gasket didn't harden up properly and water/mud got into the assembly and screwed it up.

I'd be most concerned about the bearings.  The weight of the car is meant to ride on the larger inner bearing, with the outer there to keep the tire upright.  Moving the tire out makes the weight transfer to the outer,  which isn't made for the weight or leverage.  It also puts leverage on other components but it goes through the bearings first.  That said, I have 8" rims with 3.75 backspace, so that is pretty close to factory b.s. but being that much wider will still put stress on the bearings. This tracker is the first 4x4 I put oversize tires on other than a 77 chevy K10  I had when I was a kid, so I'm learning about these little trucklets as I go.  Hopefully the bearings hold up but if not that's the price I'm willing to pay for big tires on a little truck.

It does reduce the life of the wheel bearings but they're not that expensive. The improvement in stability is worth it.

The improvement in stability is worth it.

WELL worth it!!!

It does reduce the life of the wheel bearings but they're not that expensive. The improvement in stability is worth it.

Hey Rhinoman, I'm guessing your'e same guy from S-F. com...
Heh I just joined here too & had some posts on a similar thread there... Hope Swansen doesn't think I'm jacking his thread, but I'm still trying to figure this out:

What's the backspacing of the factory 15x5.5 rims?
and
How much does trackwidth increase with, for example, 15x8 with 3.75" b/s vs. 15x7 with 3.75" b/s
ie, How do I figure out how much wider I'll get before I buy rims, put em on & go: "Crap, that's (more/less) than what I wanted?"
Not a dumb question at all Swansen, seems a bit of a puzzle & yeah... more wear, but how much more?

Fuzz

I could be wrong but I think factory backspace is 4", 6"wide wheel.  Thats 2" outside the wheel mounting surface(wms).  8" wheels with 3.75" will have 4.25" outside the wms, 2.25" more than stock(provided stock is 6") Making the track width 4.5" wider.  For 15x7" with 3.75" b.s. it'll be 3.5"
wider.   Like I said though,  I'm not 100% sure that's correct but it makes sense. Plus my tracker with 15x8 and 3.75" looks about 4.5" wider.

Yeah, that makes sense, & is how I've 'tried' to figure this out before. My Tracker has 15x5.5" wheels stock, according to the door sticker, maybe they're diff steel vs. alloys? Thing is, if the 5.5" are 4" b/s then that's 1.5" outside wms, & an inch different trackwidth per calc... hehe which is why this is so hard to figure out. My goal is increased stability for a mainly daily driver that I might do an ome 1-1 & 1/2" lift on for the ride quality. Planning on p235/75r15s & want to widen 3-4 inches at most, just don't want to put the money in & have too much or not enough. Hehe, seems this would be easy to figure out, if only... 

Fuzz 

Hey Rhinoman, I'm guessing your'e same guy from S-F. com...
Heh I just joined here too & had some posts on a similar thread there... Hope Swansen doesn't think I'm jacking his thread, but I'm still trying to figure this out:

What's the backspacing of the factory 15x5.5 rims?
and
How much does trackwidth increase with, for example, 15x8 with 3.75" b/s vs. 15x7 with 3.75" b/s
ie, How do I figure out how much wider I'll get before I buy rims, put em on & go: "Crap, that's (more/less) than what I wanted?"
Not a dumb question at all Swansen, seems a bit of a puzzle & yeah... more wear, but how much more?

Fuzz

I get around 
Stock backspacing on a Track/Kick is 4 1/4", a Sammy is 3 3/4". If you go from 15 x 7 to 15 x 8 with the same BS then it sticks out another inch. One thing to watch out for is that the wheel travels in a much wider arc as you decrease BS which eats into your clearance on the fenders.
How long will the bearings last? well I find that it depends on the terrain. They will probably last much longer rock climbing than in mud, muddy water tends to get behind the seals and soon trashes stuff. If you look in the FSM or owners handbook you will see that the service intervals depend on driving conditions.

Ding-Ding-Dinggggg!! & ty *light bulb goes off over fuzzys head!*

Ok so... stock 5.5 with 4.25 b/s = 1.25" out from wms, check.

Then a 7" rim with 3.75" of b/s = 3.25" out from wms, gain of 2" per side/4" total. Check.

& 8" rim with 3.75" b/s = 4..25" out from wms, gain of 3" per side/6" total. Check.?

& ofc greater width = greater wear... given same driving conditions.

Again my goal is stability & ride on a 'mostly' daily driver that I want capable of moderate trails (like my road & driveway are in winter! ) No huge tires/lift in the works for me, 235/75r15 & prolly the OME spring/strut/shock package (1" front 1.5" rear) to save whats left of my back. 
Thanks for info.

Fuzz

I have 280,000 miles on the stock wheel bearings, about 80,000 of
those has been with wide rims, 2.5 backspace 8" rock crawlers with
33" swampers attached.
The stability the wide stance gives is worth every penny

Wild

I have 280,000 miles on the stock wheel bearings, about 80,000 of
those has been with wide rims, 2.5 backspace 8" rock crawlers with
33" swampers attached.
The stability the wide stance gives is worth every penny

Wild

yeah, i feel a lot better about backspacing in that range, but that is a good testimonial.  Honestly, i have some old wheels off my old Grand Cherokee, and i'm planning to use them, they have slight offset.... i really should check into it, because i might end up having problems with rubbing, but then again, plans are only for 3" lift and 30x9.5.  Anyways, thanks for the input guys.

oh yeah... stability, lol, i think i about rolled my tackick today... and i was only doing like 30ish...  (? 3rd at like 2500?? maybe.. i honestly don't even know, wasn't going to fast, and it wasn't that sharp of a turn)  and it was the only time in a vehicle i have ever felt like it was going to change driving orientation...... lol, considering i used to drive my Toyota PU like a race car xD